Italian Wine Takes Over San Francisco, Part 1: Slow Wine 2013

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For Italian wine lovers, last week was epic in the city of San Francisco.

First came the Slow Wine 2013 tasting event, which brought together over 50 producers, all of whom are featured in this year’s Slow Wine Guide. The guide, which was first published in English last year by Slow Food Editore, is something of a counterpoint to the controversial 100-point rating system employed by folks like Robert Parker. In the Slow Wine Guide, much attention is given to winemaking practices from vine to glass, focusing on sustainability. Wines are not scored by number, but described and put into the context of the Italian wine landscape. Continue Reading…

Moving? Don’t know where your wine opener is? I’ve got you covered.

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I recently relocated. Beyond what fit in my truck around the carrier for one oversized, excessively furry cat, all of my posessions spent a few weeks under the guardianship of Wheaton van lines. Stumbling into the Trader Joe’s in my new city, desperate for a brief respite from my environs–which looked like Hoarders after the movers left–I zombie-shuffled my way to the wine aisle. And then realized I had no idea where my wine opener was. Now what was I going to drink? Continue Reading…

Why Regions Matter When Choosing Wine

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“Wine, not water in moderation with meals.”  This was my ninety year old friend Anzolo’s answer when I asked him for the secret to longevity. We were perched on a crumbling  Miami sea wall ripping big hunks of warm bread from a freshly bagged loaf and drinking  Chianti Classico out of tiny beveled jars. Anzolo was a painter who let me hang around sometimes to watch him work and borrow his books. He was a traveler and a truly joyful person who had been everywhere. Continue Reading…

Plush Elegance for the Holidays: Stags’ Leap Petite Sirah

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It’s a time of year for stories and a time of year for traditions. And we gather around the table to celebrate those stories and those traditions. An excellent bottle of wine can transport a special meal into the realm of a life long memory. Stags’ Leap Petite Sirah is one of my traditions. Continue Reading…

Looking for an Excuse to Wear Your Costume?

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So you’ve got your Big Bird costume and your hand-lettered “Will Work for Food” sign. Or you’re a redhead who’s going to hang loaves of bread from his clothes and be the Gingerbread Man. All dressed up and no place to go? Why not throw a different kind of Halloween party?

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One More White for St. Martin’s Summer

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What better way to enjoy the autumn warmth and sunshine than with a wine from St. Martin’s Loire Valley? I suggest Guy Saget’s 2010 Domaine de la Perrière Sancerre.

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